How to prevent Alzheimers: Scientists get closer to solving the mystery of memory loss

FROM playing card games to having cataract surgery, researchers are discovering a range of ways we could help to keep dementia at bay

Mentally-stimulating activities such as crosswords and card games can help retain memory [GETTY]

Doctors and scientists gathered last week at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2014 in Copenhagen to present research and discuss the latest developments in treating this form of dementia.

From the surprising results of an eye operation to the effect of increasing exercise, new research shed light on the myriad ways we are gaining a new understanding of memory loss and the ageing brain.

Here are the four discoveries that could change the way we treat dementia.

A MEMORY LOSS BRAIN SCAN

A special scan that creates 3D pictures of the inside of the brain to see a protein called tau could help predict future memory problems.

A build-up of tau in the brain is known to be a hallmark of Alzheimer's and is associated with worsening memory score tests over time in otherwise healthy people.

The authors of the study used positron emission tomography (PET) scanning to spot the build-up of tau in the areas of the brain important for memory. They scanned more than 50 people who had memory tests every three years. They found a greater build-up of tau in those people whose memory scores had deteriorated over time.

Dr Eric Karran, Alzheimer's Research UK's director of research, said: "This small study suggests that detecting tau using PET scanning may be useful for predicting early memory decline.

"Although no treatments exist yet to halt diseases like Alzheimer’s, detecting early changes in the brain will allow people to enter clinical trials, testing new therapies before the disease has progressed too far."

Certain brain scans can spot the build-up of a protein linked with dementia [GETTY]

THE POWER OF LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Getting active, eating healthily and managing heart health could help to improve memory and thinking skills in older adults, according to researchers in Finland.

The study was a two-year randomised controlled trial involving participants aged between 60 and 77. All participants had been classed as "at risk" of developing dementia score based on cardiovascular health and other lifestyle factors.

The participants were split into two groups. The control group was given health advice only, whereas the "intervention" group changed several lifestyle factors including nutritional guidance, physical exercise and cardiovascular health.

After two years, the memory and thinking skills of the intervention group were better than the control group. The researchers are planning a seven year follow-up study to further investigate these results.

Dr Laura Phipps of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: "The findings build on previous evidence that several different lifestyle factors may be involved in our cognitive health, including exercise and heart health.

“It will be interesting to see the results of an extended version of this study and to look at the effects of these interventions on overall dementia risk within the group. It is also important for research to take into account other potential factors such as genetics in addition to age and cardiovascular health as indicators of dementia risk.”

Mentally stimulating activities such as card games are associated with larger brain volumes and better cognitive scores, according to new research.

Researchers at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute and the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center followed healthy 329 people with an average age of 60, all of whom were considered to be at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The participants underwent MRI scans and a series of cognitive tests and were asked how often they took part in activities such as reading books, going to museums, playing card games or doing puzzles.

The results showed that people who played games or did puzzles most frequently were more likely have greater brain volume in several brain regions, and better scores in tests of memory and thinking skills.

Dr Laura Phipps of Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, said: “Observational studies like this are not able to pinpoint cause and effect but they can be useful for identifying factors that may influence our risk of memory decline and dementia.

"Previous evidence has suggested that keeping the brain active may help boost ‘cognitive reserve’, allowing the brain to resist damage for longer, and this study adds to the ongoing ‘use it or lose it’ debate.

"It’s important to note that the people in this study did not have dementia and we can’t say from these results that playing card games, reading books or doing crosswords will prevent the condition."

THEY EYE OP THAT CAN SLOW MEMORY DECLINE

A team from Case Western Reserve University reported the interim results of a trial of 28 people with dementia who also had cataracts, cloudy patches that develop on the lens of the eye.

Of the group, 20 people had an operation to remove the cataracts and the results showed that six months later, those who had surgery had better scores on the MMSE test (mini-mental state examination), used by doctors to assess dementia.

Dr Laura Phipps said: "This initial report suggests that cataract removal may contribute to better cognition in people with dementia. As age is the biggest risk factor for dementia, the condition is often accompanied by other age-related health problems, and these interim results highlight that some of these may add to the problems with thinking and memory experienced by people with the condition."